Trigger-guard.



H. P. WESTCOTT L J. M. HIRT.

TRIGGER GUARD. 'A Y APPLICATION IILIID JUNE 1o, 1909.

955,23?, Patented Apr. 19, 1910.

UNTED STATES FATENT OFFE.

HENRY P. WESTCOTT AND JOI-IN M. HIRT, OF ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA.

tal discharge.

The invention specifically embodies a casing which may be secured to theunder side of the stock of the firearm and which has a displaceable sidewall held normally in closed position by a spring but capable ofyielding to permit of the insertion of the nger for the purpose ofpulling the triggers.

In the accompanying drawings, we have illustrated a preferred andadvantageous embodiment of the invention.

In the said drawings: Figure l is a sectional view showing theadaptation of the device to any well known form of gun or rifle. Fig. 2is a cross sectional View through the center of the device. Fig. 3 is adetail perspective view of the device unattached. Fig. 4 is a crosssectional view through the pivot connection of the displaceable wall.Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the device with the wall in its normalclosed position, and Fig.'6 is a similar view showing the position whichthe wall assumes when the finger of the operator is inserted into thecasing for the purpose of pulling the trigger or triggers.

Similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughoutthe several views.

The improved trigger guard comprises essentially a substantiallyelongated ovalshaped casing, as l, having an open top and provided atits ends with apertured projections, as 2. The projections 2 provide forthe attachment of the device to the under side of the stock of thefirearm, the apertures serving for the reception of screw fastenings orsimilar devices. The casing l has a base, as 3, and it has also anopening at one side thereof, which opening is-normally closed by adisplaceable wall, as 4. The latter is'shaped in continuation of theSpecification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 10, 1909.

Patented Apr. 19, 1910.

Serial No. 501,329.

general outline of the casing and is provided with a curved forwardportion, as 5, which overlaps the curved forward end of the casing l, asshown in Fig. 6, and also with a base portion, as 6, which is pivotallyconnected to the base 3 by a suitably secured pin, as 7. For the purposeof holding the wall 4 normally in closed position, a spring, as S, isprovided. This spring is preferably set into a recess, as 9, which isformed on the under face of the base portion 6 and has one end securedto the pin 7 and its other end secured to the said base portion. Thewall 4 has at its rear end an angularly eXe tended portion, as 10,having a curved cross section and affording a throatway, as 11, throughwhich the operator may insert his finger. The cross sectional shape ofthe portion l0 provides for the throatway 11 and facilitates the passageof the operators linger into the casing, as shown in Fig. 6, at whichtime the wall 4 readily yields on its pivot against the tension of thespring 8. It will be understood that while this spring is amplysufficient to hold the wall closed, it is not of sufficient strength toprovide any material degree of pressure to resist the insertion of thefinger. A further advantage of the angularly turned portion 10 is thatits cross sectional shape conforms to the curvature of ones finger and,therefore, the only action necessary to open the wall 4 is the insertionof the finger, the wall 4 in such case constituting the guide fordirecting the finger in the proper direction into the casing.

The guard is of particularadvantage in that it wholly preventsaccidental access to the trigger when the gun is not in use and yet itdoes not involve the loss of any time in its manipulation, since the actof engaging the finger with the trigger immediately opens the side wallof the guard, no other steps being involved in this operation.

The device requires no change in the form of the firearm and may,therefore, be attached to any known construction of firearm and it maybe used by itself or in connection with the regulation trigger guardwith which rearms are usually provided. It has also the advantages ofsimplicity and inexpensiveness and does not interfere with the movementof the finger in pulling the trigger.

Having fully described our invention, we claim:

l. A trigger guard comprising a casing which has a displaceable Wallproviding for the insertion of the operators finger into the casing andbeing opened by such insertion and a spring for holding the Wall innormally closed position.

2. A trigger guard comprising a casing of oval form and Which has apivoted displaceable side walll and a spring for holding the Wall innormally closed position.

3. A trigger guard comprising a casing of .oval form and which has apivoted side Wall having at one end an angularly turned portion ofcurved cross section and affording a throatway for the insertion of theoperators linger.

4. A trigger guard comprising a casing having a base and a displaceableside Wall having a base piece which overlies the base of the casing andis pivoted thereto, and a spring for holding the side Wall in normallyclosed position.

5. A trigger guard comprising a casing for immovable attachment to afirearm to inelose the trigger thereof, and a displaceable Wall tonormally close the casing, the Wall in its open position providing forthe insertion of the oaerators finger into the casing. y

In testimony whereof We have hereunto set our hands in presence of twosubscribing Witnesses.

HENRY P. VESTCOTT. JOHN M. HIRT. lVitnesses A. B. GALLAGHER, ALBERT F.GRIsWoLD, J r.

